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The Jets immediately cut the player who sucker-punched their quarterback in the face and broke his jaw in 2 places

Scott Davis   

The Jets immediately cut the player who sucker-punched their quarterback in the face and broke his jaw in 2 places
Sports2 min read

ik enemkpali

AP

The New York Jets suffered a major blow in training camp when third-year quarterback Geno Smith broke his jaw after getting sucker-punched in a locker room altercation with linebacker Ikemefuna "IK" Enemkpali.

The incident was first reported by NJ.com Jets beat reporter Dom Cosentino.

Smith reportedly broke his jaw in two places. He needs surgery and will miss six to ten weeks, coach Todd Bowles said.

After the incident, the Jets immediately cut Enemkpali, who they reportedly describe as a "huge ball of muscle":

Here he is at the 2014 Draft combine:

ik enemkpali

AP Images

The punch reportedly didn't come out of nowhere, though. Smith and Enempkpali were reportedly in an argument when Smith put his finger in Enemkpali's face:

Bowles spoke to reporters briefly after practice, and said:

"IK is gone. It's something we don't tolerate, something we can't stand. You don't walk up to another man and punch him in the face."

He also said he was disappointed in his players for not talking it out, saying, "It's something very childish that sixth graders could have talked about."

Though Enemkpali signed a four-year, $2.3 million contract in 2014, only $78,000 of it was guaranteed, according to Spotrac. Enemkpali had no workout or roster bonus this year, so he will not receive the $510,000 in base salary he was owed this year.

Enemkpali's temper was reportedly known going into training camp:

With Smith out, the common belief is the Jets will rely on veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who they signed in the offseason.

Smith's injury is a huge setback, as many believed his third season would need to be his breakout year. 

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